Flash-light.



, PATBNTED. MAY 2s, 1007. G. RBHEMANN.

FLASH LIGHT.

APPLICATION FILED JUNI; 22,1906.' SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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fr HoRRls PETERS co2: wAsmNcroN n c y? J. mL/Zani No. 854,880. lITENTED MAY' 28, 1907. G. F. EHEMANN.

FLAsHLIG-HT. y APPLIOTION FILED JUVNE A22,1906.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2..v

C207-ige v UNITED IsTATEs PATENT oEEIeE.

GEORGE F. EHEMANN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

FLASH-LIGHT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

` Patented May 28, 1907.

` Application leAdJune 22, 1906. Serial No. 322,917.

automatically producing a Hash light effectl and is more especially intended -for-use .in connection With gas-lighting appliances; and has for its object to provide a device of this character -for illuminating signs and other display mediums for commercial advertising.

A further object is to provide. a device' having an intermittent or predetermined Vperiodical action in producing an alternating light and dark effect Without entirely extinguishing the flame.

It is also obvious that this. apparatusmay be used in connection with ornamental and. amusement devices,in addition to its use for commercial purposes.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of an apparatus embodying the improved features. F ig. 2 is a detachedplan of a valve actuating lmechanism on line 2,

Fig. 1, looking in the direction indicated by.' the arrow. Fig. 3 is a longitudinalsection,

showing the operating mechanism in the op,- posite position from'that shown in Fig. l1; and Fig. Llis an elevation of the valve mechanism shown in the other figures.

A represents a gas-holder and receptacle for the operating mechanism which maybe located at any convenient point in the assupply-pipe. This gas-holder is preferagbly made in the elongated cylindrical form shown,.but it is obvious that,` any other suitable form may be employed. rOne end of the gas-holder is clsed by a removable cap 5, so that convenient ,access may be had in installing and keepin the mechanism .in proper working condition. The opposite end is provided with a cap or ring 6 having an opening 7 therein in which is seated a liexible piston 8 tightly closing they opening in the end Wall. The cap or rin '6 has a screw threadede agement and t e border edge 9 of the flerlfble piston is folded over an interposed packing ring 10, sothat when the cap ring 6 is screwed into place the piston is properly secured in its Working position and at the same time a gas tight joint is formed at this end of the holder. The central part of the fieXible piston is clamped between companion-button disks 11 and 12 fastened together by a boltorrivet 13. This provides the flexible piston With a rigid center, increases its durability and has a tendency to facilitate the operatio'nof expansion and contraction.

The gas-holder is divided into tWo compartmentsor chambers 14 and 15 by a division diaphragm 16 having a thickened part 17 with a gas-passage 18 therethrough in providing communication between said compartments. A regulating screw 19 is inserted from the outside and extends into the passage 18 andprovides a convenient means for controlling and regulating the volume of gas flowing back and forth from onecham- I ber to theother. By turningthe screw out- Ward the area of passage 18 is increased, and in theopposite direction the area is diminished in providing for a greater or less flow of gasfromone compartment tothe other, aspractical working may require.

The compartment 14 is `the main or frasehamber proper, the compartment 15 will be termed an auxiliary or pistonchamber, the specific functions of which will -be hereinafter setfforth.

A screw-plug 20 is threaded in the holder and has a valve-seat 21 inserted therein. This valve-seat has a gas inlet passage 22 therethrough and is threaded in place so as to permit of the same being properly adjusted with reference to the closingposition ofthevalve and bring the same to a uniform bearing thereon. The gas-supply pipe 23 connects-.withthe plug 20.

,Themajor part ofthe actuating mechanism islocated inchamber 14 of the holder and is-mounted onfalbase-part 24 rigidly securedto the inner wall bya screw 25.

A valve 26 is positioned to open and close the inlet passage 22 through the valve-seat at the proper time. This valve is made up of a number of parts, as, a hollowbody 27, a stem28, a facing 29 and a clamping ring 30 asbest shown in Fig. 3. The valve facing may be composed of any suitable flexible material and will have the edge 31 thereofl turned up to surround the valve body 27 and is removably secured in place by the ring or band 30. By this arrangement a soft bearing valve-face is provided and having the hollow portion of the valve back of the same will yield slightly to conform to an unevenness so that a perfectly tight closure is always insured. When the facing is worn so as to be IIO no longer serviceable it can be conveniently removed and a new facing substituted.

The free end 32 of the valve-lever 28 is turned upward and is provided below the turned up end on each side with integral pins 33 projecting laterally and having a bearing in the respective sides 0f the base-part 24 as best shown in Fig. 2. Companion springs 34 are coiled on pins 33 and have the straightened out lower ends 35 thereof brought to a tension bearing on the base 24 and the upper ends a to a bearing against the underside of the valve stem, as shown in the different figures of the drawings and indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2. The springs 34 act to return the valve from its closed position, Figs. 3 and 4 to the normal open position shown in Fig. 1.

The valve-lever 28 is provided with an opening 36 down through which is inserted the end 37 of an angle lockingsarm 38. The opposite free end of this locking-arm has a pin 40 inserted through and projecting from each side thereof, as best shown in liig. 2. The pin 40 extends across and back of a bifurcated spring lever-rod 41 which extends upward and stops short of the top of the holder. 1 The spring-rod 41 consists of a single piece of wire and has one or more coils 42 formed on the upper end thereof. The forked lower parts of this spring-rod are coiled on a rod 43, inserted in the base-part 24 to form springs 44, the tension ends 45 resting on said base-part. A plate 46 is mounted on the spring rod 41 just above the tension springs 44 and forms a fulcrum bearing for the spring rod when it is bent inward to the abnormal or valve-closing position shown in Fig. 3, the normal position of all parts being shown in Fig. 1. t

A spring 47 is coiled on a rod 48 and has one end secured to the lower' inner end of the lock ing arm 38, the other tension end 49 resting on the base. The locking-arm is provided with a catch 50 which bears against the underside of the valve-stem in its open position and on the upper side when in the closed position. A depressing finger 51 is mounted on the spring rod 41 above the adjacent part of the locking arm and normally out of contact therefrom.

A flexible piston-rod 52 passes through the division diaphragm and has one end secured to bolt 13 iixed in the bottom center of the iiexible piston, the other end being secured to the upper end of the spring rod 41 informing an operative connection between the actuating mechanism in chamber 14 and the piston in chamber 15. The fiexible piston will ordinarily be composed of soft pliable leather such as kid or the like and which will dening destroying effects of the '.lhis piston has two positions. ln its normal collapsed condition it is inside of the chan1ber15 (Fig. 1) and when expanded it is l'orced out ward therefrom, as shown in Fig. 3.

The-gas supply pipe is provided with the usual stop-cock (not shown) for controlling the gas coming from the source of supply. Now, referring to Fig. 1, and assuming this cock to have just been opened the gas will flow into the holder when the burner 53 may be ignited as it ordinarily would be. As the holder fills a portion of the gas will pass through the diaphragm into chamber 15 and force the piston out to its expanded positon, which movement will have the ell'ect, thro ugh the piston-rod connection of drawing the upper end of the spring lever rod .inward from its normal position.

Normally, the spring rod 41 is in engagement with the pin 40, thus holding the loching lever 38 slightly tilted backward with thel catch 50 out of locking position. The lirst eect of the movement of the spring lever rod under the infiuence of the piston is to leave the pin 40 free and to permit the locking lever 38 to rock forward under the action oll spring 48, positioning the catch 5t) in locking relation under the valve-arm 28, thus posin tively holding the valve against closing. Next, the plate 46 is brought into contact with the end 32 of the pivoted valvearn1 28. The tendency, of course, is to close the valve; but this tendency is resisted. by the positive locking action of the catch 50 beneath the arm 28. As the spring rod 41 is bent still farther, the finger 51 comes into engagement with the top of the locking arm 38, thereby rocking the latter and retracting the catch 5t), when the valve is forced down instantaneously on its seat by the pressure exerted by the rod 41 upon the end 32 of the valve-arm. At the moment of closing the valve, the l laine at the burner is reduced to a pilot llame.

It will -be noted that the fornfard edge of the catch 50 is beveled, so that, after the catch has been retracted a certain distance, the valve-arm rides over the bevel, rocking the locking lever 38 slightly downward out ol' engagement with the 'linger 51. As soon as the valve-arm has ridden off the bevel, and the valve is closed, the locking arm is free to tilt forward slightly under the action o'lits spring, until it contacts again with the iinger 51, this movement being sufli cient to position the catch in positive locking relation over the top of the valve-arm. The piston 8 now "Ixegins to collapse within its chamber7 both by reason of atmospheric pressure and because of the tension of the rod 41, having the coils 44 at its base and in addition being bowed over the end 32 of the valve-arm. As the piston collapses, the spring rod straightens; and, at the conclusion of the straightening movement, the rod engages the pin 40, and

llO

jfl

vto said valve, a gas-pressure operated piston,

again releases the catch, permitting the valve to fly upward underthe action of its spring 34, when the flame instantly fiashes upward to its full size.

It will be noted that one side of the flexible piston being exposed to the atmosphere the pressure of the air will assist in returning the same from its bulged out position to its normal contracted position. The compartment l5 provides an ebb and flow chamber in regulating the pressure of the gas as between the two compartments in the holder in insuring a proper working of the flexible piston.

It will be understood that the intermittent operation or change from light to dark and vice versa is instantaneous. rIhe movement of the actuating parts may be so timed as to vary the period between fiashes.

Any number of branch burner'pipes may be connected with and operated from the same holder, the capacity of the latter being proportionately increased.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim isl. In a device of the character described, the combination of a gasV holder having an inlet and an outlet, a valve for closing said inlet at intervals, a piston and connections between the same and the valve adapted to be actuated by the gas-pressure within the holder and constituting the actuating means for the valve, and an automatically-releasable positive lock distinct from said actuating means for holding said valve in closed and open positions.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination of a gas holder having an inlet and an outlet, a valve for opening and closing said inlet at intervals, a piston connected with said valve to close the same, said piston being adapted to be actuated by the gas-pressure within the holder, a spring for automatically opening the valve, and an automatically releasable positive lock for holding said valve in closed and open positions.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination of a gas holder having an inlet and an outlet, a valve for opening and closing said inlet at intervals, a spring for holding said valve normally open, a positive locking device normally inoperative with reference and means operated by said piston when being distended under gas-pressure first to permit said locking device to lock said valve positively in open position, then to apply pressure to the valve tending to close the same, and finally to release the locking device permitting the valve to close under such pressure.

4. In a device of the character described, the combination of a gas holder having an inlet and an outlet, a valve for opening and closing said inlet at intervals, a spring for holding said valve normally open, a positive locking device normally inoperative with reference to said valve, a gas-pressure operated piston, and means operated by said piston when being distended under gas-pressure first to permit said locking device to lock said valve positively in open position, then to ap ply pressure to the valve tending to close the same, and finally to release the locking device permitting the valve to close under such pressure, said locking device being constructed upon closing of the valve immediately and positively to lock the same in closed position, and the piston-operated means being arranged to again release said locking device upon collapse of said piston, permitting the valve to open instantaneously under the action of its spring.

5. In a device of the character described,

the combination of a gas holder having an inlet and an outlet, a valve for opening and closing said inlet at intervals, a spring for holding said valve normally open, a positive locking device, a spring for moving the same into locking position with reference to the valve, a gas-pressureoperated piston, and piston connections arranged normally to hold said locking device inoperative against the tension of 'its spring, and during the distention of said piston under gas-pressure to permit said locking device to assume locking position with reference to the valve in its open position, then to apply pressure to the valve tending to close the same, and finally to release the locking device permitting the valve to close under such pressure, said locking device being constructed upon closing of the valve immediately and positively to lock the same in closed position, and said piston connection being arranged to return the locking device to inoperative position upon collapse of the piston, permitting lthe valve to open instantaneously under the action of its spring.

6. In a device of the character described, the combination of a gas holder having an inlet and an outlet, a valve for opening andV closing said inlet at intervals, a spring for holding said valve normally open, a positive locking device, a spring for moving the same into locking position with reference to the valve, a gas-pressure-operated piston, and piston connections having spring means for holding them in normal position in which they hold the locking device inoperative, said connections being arrange-d during the distention of said piston under gas-pressure to permit said locking device to assume locking position with reference to the valve in its open position, then to apply pressure to the valve tending to close the same, and final] to release the locking device permitting the valve to close under such pressure, said locking device being constructed upon closirig of the valve immediately and positively to lock the same in closed position, and said piston IOC IIO

connections being arranged to return the locking device to inoperative position upon collapse of the piston, permitting the valve to open instantaneously under the action of its spring.

7. In a device of the character described, the combination of a gas holder having an inlet and an outlet, a valve for opening and closing said inlet at intervals, a spring for [o holding said valve normally open, a positive locking device, a spring for moving the same into locking position with reference to the valve, a gas-pressure-operated piston, and piston connections arranged normally i 5 to hold said locking device retracted against the tension of its spring, and during the distention of said piston under gas pressure to permit said locking device to assume locking position with reference to the valve in its zo open position, then to apply pressure to the valve tending to close the same, and finally to retract the locking device permitting the valve to close under such pressure, said locking device having a bevel over which said valve rides in closing after the device has been partially retracted and which permits the device to move slightly forward under the action of its spring to llock the valve closed, and said piston connection being ar- 3o ranged again to retract the locking device upon collapse of the piston, permitting the valve to open instantaneously under the action of its spring.

8, In a device of the character described,

3 5 the combination of a gas holder having an inlet and an outlet, a valve for opening and closing said inlet at intervals, a spring for holding said valve normally open, a positive locking device, a spring for moving the same 4o into locking position with reference to the valve, a gas-pressure operated piston, a spring rod anchored at one end and connected with said piston at the other, said ro d being arranged normally to hold said locking 4 5 device retracted in inoperative position against the tension of its spring, and during distention of the piston under gas-pressure to permit said locking device to assume locking position with reference to the valve in its open position and then to bear against said valve tending to close the same, and a 'finger carried by said rod in position to engage and retract said locking device during the further distention of the piston, permit- 5 5 ting the valve to close instantaneously un der the pressure of the rod, said locking device being constructed upon closiinr of the valve immediately and positively to Iocli the same in closed position, and said rod being arranged to again retract the locking device 6o upon collapse of the piston, permittingthe valve to open instantaneously under the action of its spring,

9. In a device of the character described, the combination of' a gas holder divided by a 65 partition into two compartments, there being a restricted gas passage through said partition, a ilexible piston in one of said compartments being exposed to the pressure ol the atmosphere, a gas inlet and outlet at the 7o other side ol the partition, and an automatically opening and closing valve co-operatingwith said inlet and operatively connected with said piston.

l0. In a device of the character described, the combination of a gas holder divided by a partition into two compartments, there being a restricted gas passage through said partition, a llexible piston in one of said compartments being exposed to the pressure ol` Sc the atmosphere, a gas inlet and outlet at the other side of the partition, an autonnttically opening and closing valve co-operating with said inlet and operatively connected with said piston, and manually operated means for regulating the sizeof said passage.

1l. In a device of the character described, the combination of a gas holder divided by a partition into two compartments, there being a restricted gas passage through said parti- 9o tion, a liexible piston constituting one el' the walls oi' one ol said compartments, a gas inlet and outlet at the other side of the partition, and an automatically opening and closing valve co-operating with said inlet and opere 5 atively connected with said piston.

12. In a device of the class described, a gas-holder, a gas inlet valve located therein,

a lever upon which the same is mounted, a locking-arm inserted through said lever and 1o( provided with a catch adapted to engage the upperside of said lever when the valve is closed and the underside when the valve is .in

its normal open position, and means for actuating said locliing arm to correspond to the lo; position of said valve.

In testimony whereof I allix. my signature, in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE F. EIIEMANN. litnesses L. B. COUPLAND, G. E. CHURCH. 

